How to Treat a Navel Piercing Infection

A navel piercing can become infected and must be treated immediately.

Piercing a body part is essentially forming a wound on your body. The piercing site must be treated as an open wound and taken care of accordingly. If it becomes infected, it may turn red, become irritated and form pus. It can be painful and may require a trip to the doctor if it doesn't get well with home treatment. Using a warm compress and saline rinses are the first steps to treating your infection at home. It can take a whole year after the initial piercing to heal a navel piercing properly, so keeping it clean is a must.

Things You'll Need

• Warm cloth
• Antibacterial soap
• Antibiotic ointment
• Salt
• Water

Instructions

1. Remove your body jewelry. Clean the site of the piercing with warm water and antibacterial soap. Cleaning the site gently will remove pus and lower the chance of it becoming worse. Consult your piercer about getting a retainer made of appropriate material so your piercing won't close up while the infection heals.

2. Apply a warm compress to the infected area several times a day.

3. Use a mild saline solution made from salt and water to irrigate the site for a mild infection. You can keep the site covered or uncovered, but don't replace your jewelry until your infection is cleared up.

4. Apply antibiotic ointment purchased at a drugstore for a more serious infection. If it doesn't show signs of improvement after 48 hours of home treatment, contact your physician. An oral antibiotic may be prescribed.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear loose clothing that won't rub against the infection site.

• If there is a rash around the piercing site, you may be experiencing an allergic reaction to the metal in your jewelry.

References

• Web MD: Body Piercing Problems, Home Treatment
• Family Doctor: Body Piercing
• Safe Piercing: Troubleshooting

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish